SEOUL, May 04 (AJP) -U.S. President Donald Trump said Sunday that Washington would begin guiding commercial vessels out of the Strait of Hormuz after ships became stranded amid the escalating conflict between the United States and Iran, raising fresh attention in South Korea where dozens of vessels and crews remain exposed to the disruption.
“Countries from all over the World … have asked the United States if we could help free up their Ships, which are locked up in the Strait of Hormuz,” Trump wrote on Truth Social. He said the United States would help guide ships “safely out of these restricted waterways” so that global trade could resume.
The initiative, dubbed “Project Freedom,” is set to begin Monday morning Middle East time, according to Trump and U.S. officials.
As of Sunday, 26 South Korean-linked vessels with a total of 173 crew members remain waiting inside the Strait of Hormuz area. Seoul has been monitoring the situation around the clock while coordinating with shipping firms and related authorities to ensure the safety of ships and seafarers.
The Seoul government is yet to respond whether it has been notified of the new U.S. venture.
A senior U.S. official said the operation would create a coordination framework among governments, insurers and shipping organizations to move vessels through the strategic waterway. The effort does not currently involve direct U.S. Navy escorts for commercial ships, the official added.
The move comes as concerns deepen over maritime security in the Gulf after Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps reportedly deployed naval mines in parts of the strait, increasing risks for passing vessels.
The Strait of Hormuz handles roughly one-fifth of the world’s oil supply under normal conditions and is considered one of the most critical chokepoints in global energy trade.
The latest U.S. initiative is expected to be closely watched in Seoul, as South Korea relies heavily on crude oil imports from the Middle East and prolonged disruptions in Hormuz could sharply affect energy prices, shipping costs and broader supply chains.
Trump described the operation as a “humanitarian gesture” for the United States, Middle Eastern countries and Iran, while warning that any interference with the passage effort “will, unfortunately, have to be dealt with forcefully.”
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